[montomike]

It would be nice to see the Chinese reaction to blowing an O2 system halfway between the moon and the earth and returning to talk about it.

Its kind of sickening to see the world look upon the Chinese astronaut as a great accomplishment when you compare it to what the US did with Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the space shuttle.

Its kind of like seeing Car and Driver go nuts over a Yugo!

[TSgt]

We should welcome the Chinese to the 20th century.

At the rate they are going I bet they'll have high speed Internet access by 3003!

[Textide]

I'm no fan of communist regimes, but putting a man up in space and bringing him back again is a hell of a feat regardless of which nation does it. Not many can.

[irv]

Its kind of sickening to see the world look upon the Chinese astronaut as a great accomplishment when you compare it to what the US did with Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the space shuttle.

I agree and disagree. This actually is a significant accomplishment for a pretty backwards country. It's not the same as blazing a new trail, like we did. It's not groundbreaking or revolutionary.

On the other hand, that taikonaut up there really is a brave man who's joined a still very exclusive club. I don't blame his people for being proud of him.

[kenth]

I agree. It was disgusting to see how many articles there were wondering if this means a new space race, and if the U.S. was falling behind.

They're only forty years late...

[Frank_Discussion]

"Its kind of sickening to see the world look upon the Chinese astronaut as a great accomplishment when you compare it to what the US did with Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the space shuttle."

It's even more sickening that we can't do it right now. It doesn't matter what we did "then" it matters what we're capable of "now".

If you consider that a new space race may be beginning at this very moment, we're losing. Then again, the last time this happened, when ultimately won. And we can again, if we rightly recognize China for the threat that it is.